Trump Lectures Ukraine, not Russia

An armed Russian drone struck a passenger train in Ukraine near the Polish border over the weekend, while President Trump instructed Ukraine's President to cease targeting energy supplies in Russia. Make Vladimir Putin's day, Mr. President. The passenger train route between Warsaw and Kyiv is a crucial travel artery for civilians, as the Kremlin is well aware.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, and a senior advisor to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were reportedly on another train that same evening. Were the Russians aiming to strike those European allies of Ukraine?

President Trump expressed no criticism regarding the attack, which is merely a routine bombardment of Ukrainian civilians and energy facilities by Russia. The Kremlin aims to make life as difficult as possible for the Ukrainian people as another harsh winter of war looms on the horizon. Mr. Trump did find time to caution Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky against targeting energy supply depots inside Russia, stating, "Mr.

Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel." Mr. Trump made this remark during his visit to Ireland on Sunday. "This isn't done by the Middle East. This is done by what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine."

Russia is free to strike any and all targets in Ukraine, but Ukraine must refrain from retaliating in Russian soil. Mr. Trump appears to be concerned about the price of diesel fuel, but blaming Ukraine amid Iranian and Houthi attacks on Middle East oil production and transport is nothing short of grand-scale political excuse-making.

It's also strategically misguided, as Russia and Iran seemingly aid each other in their respective conflicts. Mr. Trump believes he can compartmentalize these wars, but every time he does, adversaries in Moscow and Tehran smile at their good fortune.